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Posted Tuesday, August 28, 2012

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Thank you for your understanding
and future support of the best online support service for people living with,
affected by and at risk for HIV.

I recently gave oral to a guy without knowing I had a couple of small mouth ulcers near the groove inside my bottom lip. He came on my tongue as he was pulling out my mouth and I quickly spat it out and rinsed my mouth out with water. I washed the area with soap too.

The ulcers weren't bleeding (to my knowledge), but were slightly sore and had been caused by sharp food over the Christmas period.

Am I at risk of any BBV, specifically HIV? Do I need to enquire about PEP?

Blue, your saliva contains over a dozen elements and proteins which very effectively prevent the transmission of viable HIV. You are worrying needlessly. There is no need for testing and certainly not for PEP.

Sexually only unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse are confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV. Use condoms for those activities every time and you will be well protected.

Other STDs are much easier to acquire than HIV, so we advise that anyone who is sexually active ought to at least annually have a full STD panel done.

I appreciate that. Thanks for your input. I have been taught to worry about these things though. Even if the cum made contact with the ulcer and it's crust or my tongue rubbed against it, I have nothing to worry about?

Thanks for your help and advice. Should I be worried about anything else following this individual, isolated incident (normally I have only 1 partner and we're both very careful)?

EDIT: I appreciate your help and understand you receive lots of these requests for information, but it is so conflicting out there. I just don't want to dice with my life when I have 24 hours remaining to seek PEP if necessary.

For what it's worth, I'm not panicking as a result of surfing the net, as I know that there is so many unverified sources. I'm worried as a result of the knowledge I have been taught by health professionals, that not only claim there is a risk of HIV transmission via oral sex, but that it is increased and more likely if you have cuts, sore gums, etc... This conflicts with what I have read on here. Obviously, I am hoping that you guys have it correct.

We are careful about what we put out. But ultimately you have to decide what you are comfortable with. That includes in relation to your making decisions about protecting your health in terms of sexuality.

As far as we are concerned here sexual risk for HIV is about unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse.

I completely understand that. If it wasn't for the small ulcers I had, I would have no doubt. I guess part of me just thinks it is possible that if the person was infected and some cum happened to reach the ulcerated area, it could cause an infection.

Obviously I am concerned about my health and as I am 24 hours away from the end of the PEP window, I'm worried I could make the biggest mistake of my life by forgetting about this and not going for PEP.

As Andy says, feelings are not facts. I would be suprised if any ER doctor would prescribe such expensive and potentially toxic medication over what is essentially a no risk situation.

Use a condom for penetrative anal and vaginal sex and you will avoid HIV. It really is that simple.

*modified for spelling

« Last Edit: January 10, 2012, 07:04:46 PM by jkinatl2 »

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I would not imagine suggesting PEP over he incident as you describe it.

Please be aware that this forum will not allow you to go on and on over a no risk situation, as yours most assuredly is.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

I am sorry. There is not a 100% certainty that HIV will not mutate to an airborne virus and deccimate the human race. Science simply does not deal with absolutes.

We base this site IN science. The ONLY 100% certainty of protection from STDs is sex with your own hand, And even then, I can think offhand of several theoretical means by which an STD can be transmitted, in the extremely odd and right situations.

I will say this. Any site, or any person, professional or otherwise, who gives any event a 100% chance of happening/not happening, is dumbing down science and condescending to you.

I try not to do that.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

Why dont you do as your heart says (get PEP). After all, the side effects will only lasts until the course is over (28 days, I think). Nothing to loose. At least you will get peace of mind and the body will start to clear the toxins once the 28 days passes (I think).

Greese, it is a rule of the site that members in this Forum can write only in their own threads and not comment in the threads of other members. If you had read the opening thread at the top of the Forum you would have known that.

However well intentioned, please don't do it again or you will find yourself getting banned.